PUA_ASKTOOLBAR.GF
a variant of Win32/Bundled.Toolbar.Ask (ESET-NOD32)
Windows
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
Threat Type: Potentially Unwanted Application
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This Potentially Unwanted Application arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites. It may be manually installed by a user.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
18,741,360 bytes
EXE
No
19 Mar 2018
Arrival Details
This Potentially Unwanted Application arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
It may be manually installed by a user.
Installation
This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following folders:
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro
- %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\FileViewPro
(Note: %Program Files% is the Program Files folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files on all Windows operating system versions; C:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit applications running on Windows 64-bit operating systems.. %ProgramData% is the Program Data folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
It drops the following files:
- %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\FileViewPro\FileViewPro.lnk
- %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\FileViewPro\Uninstall FileViewPro.lnk
- %System Root%\Users\Public\Desktop\FileViewPro.lnk
- %User Temp%\ah_setup.log
- %User Temp%\ah_install.log
- %User Temp%\ah_setupwatcher1.log
- %User Temp%\ah_installui.log
- %User Temp%\ah_download.log
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\unins000.exe
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\FileViewPro.exe
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\FileViewPro.pdb
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\PluginInstaller.exe
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Interop.WIA.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Microsoft.Ink.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\FileViewPro.Strings.3.resources
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Word.Resources.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Code\Extended\Patch-Mode.xshd
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Code\Extended\Python-Mode.xshd
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Code\Extended\SQL-Mode.xshd
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\FileViewPro.Localization.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\FileViewPro.exe.config
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\FileViewPro.Views.dll.config
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\EULA_FileViewPro.rtf
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\new_icon.ico
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\EULA_FileViewPro.rtf
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\ar.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\cs.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\da.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\de.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\el.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\en.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\es.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\fi.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\fr.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\hi.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\hu.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\it.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\ja.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\ko.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\nl.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\no.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\pl.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\pt-br.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\pt-pt.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\ro.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\ru.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\sv.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\tr.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\zh-cn.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\zh-tw.xml
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Cursors\PanToolCursor.cur
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\O2S.Components.PDFRender4NET.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\O2S.Components.PDFView4NET.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\SevenZipSharp.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\7z\7z.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\DevExpress.Data.v11.1.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\DevExpress.Utils.v11.1.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\DevExpress.XtraEditors.v11.1.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\DevExpress.XtraBars.v11.1.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\DevExpress.Printing.v11.1.Core.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\DevExpress.XtraGrid.v11.1.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\DevExpress.XtraPrinting.v11.1.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\DevExpress.XtraRichEdit.v11.1.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\DevExpress.RichEdit.v11.1.Core.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\DevExpress.XtraRichEdit.v11.1.Extensions.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Raw\dcraw.exe
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Redist\DotNetFx35ClientSetup.exe
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Wps\wps2html.exe
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\QlmLicenseLib.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\QlmControls.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\IsLicense50.dll
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Plugins.xml
- %User Temp%\AskSLib.dll
- %User Temp%\AskSLib.exe
(Note: %ProgramData% is the Program Data folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.. %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.. %Program Files% is the Program Files folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files on all Windows operating system versions; C:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit applications running on Windows 64-bit operating systems.)
Other System Modifications
This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
apn_dbr = ie_8.0.7601.17514
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
cbid = ^ADI
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
client = ic
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
clientv = 9.9.9.9
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
cr = 1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
cr-homepageurl = {URL}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
cr-o = APN10610cr
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
crif = 1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
crumb = 2018.03.19+05.44.46-dubprdapntlfe17-PH-TWFuaWxhLFBoaWxpcHBpbmVz
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
crx-path = {URL}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
dbr = 132
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
dot = 6
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
dt = 400
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
dtid = ^YYYYYY^YY^PH
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
ff-max-version = 13.*
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
fflu = -2
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
fv = 3.5.7 (en-US)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
guid = ec2bebe8-704f-4d0c-a8ac-f0d47c36e485
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
harch = 32
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
hloc = en-US
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
homepageurl = {URL}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
hos = 6.1.1.sp1.x86
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
iedis = 0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
ielu = -2
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
iev = 8.0.7601.17514
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
inst = 200
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
iv = 8.0.7601.17514
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
l = dis
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
locale = en_US
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
location = {address}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
make-offer = 1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
nthp = 0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
o = APN10610
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
oi = nop
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
qsrc = 2871
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
repurl = {URL}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
saguid = 5ed2532b-745a-402a-83f9-ecb5901b53ec
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
same-partner = 0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
slwo = 0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
tb = SLS
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
tb-installer-path = {URL}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
tb-version = 5.15.29.0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
to = ""
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
wft = remote
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Installer
cr-homepageurl = {URL}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Installer
crif = 1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Installer
ff-max-version = 13.*
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Installer
guid = ec2bebe8-704f-4d0c-a8ac-f0d47c36e485
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Installer
homepageurl = {URL}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Installer
make-offer = 1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Installer
nthp = 0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Installer
oi = nop
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Installer
repurl = {URL}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
cbid = ^ADI
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
cr-o = APN10610cr
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
crumb = 2018.03.19+05.44.46-dubprdapntlfe17-PH-TWFuaWxhLFBoaWxpcHBpbmVz
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
dtid = ^YYYYYY^YY^PH
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
l = dis
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
locale = en_US
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
location = {address}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
o = APN10610
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
qsrc = 2871
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
slwo = 0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
to = ""
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
StartPage\NewShortcuts
%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\FileViewPro\FileViewPro.lnk = 1
Other Details
This Potentially Unwanted Application connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://apnmedia.{BLOCKED}k.com/media/toolbar/stub/1.0.0.0/ApnIC.dll?tb={value}&version={value}
- http://websearch.{BLOCKED}k.com/installed?client={value}&tb={value}&dtid={value}&id={value}&ipid={value}&iev={value}&iedis={value}&ielu={value}&fflu={value}&iv={value}&nv={value}&clientv={value}&said={value}&browser-lang={value}&apn_dbr={value}&cr={value}
- http://img.{BLOCKED}lytics.com/images/nocache/apn/tr.gif?ev={value}&p2={value}&encb={value}&chk={value}&ts={value}&guid={value}&dt={value}&wft={value}&inst={value}&tb={value}&hos={value}&harch={value}&hloc={value}&iv={value}&fv={value}&dbr={value}&vb={value}&msi={value}&dot={value}
- http://apnmedia.{BLOCKED}k.com/media/toolbar/supertoolbar/profile-ask/wrapper/2.3.0/EverestWrapper.exe
- http://phn.{BLOCKED}lytics.com/tr.gif?anxa={value}&anxv={value}&anxe={value}&anxr={value}&reason={value}&tpid={value}&trgb={value}&result={value}&ft={value}&udbr={value}
- http://anx.{BLOCKED}lytics.com/tr.gif?anxa={value}&anxe={value}&tpid={value}&defaultSearchChoice={value}&homepageChoice={value}&status={value}&newpid={value}
- http://{BLOCKED}i.search.{BLOCKED}k.com/v7/installed?pid={value}&dtid={value}&cbid={value}&pf={value}&pids={value}&dbr={value}&user_lid={value}&client={value}
- http://apnmedia.{BLOCKED}k.com/media/toolbar/everest/partners/SLS-RG/YY/Setup.ini
- http://phn.{BLOCKED}lytics.com/tr.gif?anxa={value}&anxv={value}&anxe={value}&anxr={value}&ieVersionInstalled={value}&defaultSearchChoice={value}&ffVersionInstalled={value}&osArchitecture={value}&installApiAttempts={value}&osDetail={value}&msiErrorCode={value}&errorCondition={value}&tpid={value}&installApiTime={value}&crVersionInstalled={value}&msiVersion={value}&msiExitCode={value}&installationResult={value}&setupTime={value}&homepageChoice={value}
SOLUTION
9.850
1.931.00
22 Mar 2018
Step 1
Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.
Step 2
Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.
Step 3
Delete this registry key
Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
- Ask.com.tmp
- Ask.com.tmp
Step 4
Delete this registry value
Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartPage\NewShortcuts
- %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\FileViewPro\FileViewPro.lnk = "1"
- %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\FileViewPro\FileViewPro.lnk = "1"
Step 5
Search and delete this folder
- %Program Files%\FileViewPro
- %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\FileViewPro
Step 6
Search and delete these files
- %System Root%\Users\Public\Desktop\FileViewPro.lnk
- %User Temp%\ah_setup.log
- %User Temp%\ah_install.log
- %User Temp%\ah_setupwatcher1.log
- %User Temp%\ah_installui.log
- %User Temp%\ah_download.log
- %User Temp%\AskSLib.dll
- %User Temp%\AskSLib.exe
Step 7
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA_ASKTOOLBAR.GF. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:
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